Natsuhis chakra reserves were already less than half.
"Your chakra is nearly depleted. What's your plan?"
Hearing this, Natsuhi's expression tensed. "Everyone here has been dealt with. We'll figure it out when we encounter the next group."
But as soon as the words left her mouth, several figures appeared before them.
"It seems our enemies are moving faster than we anticipated," Hatake Kusuo remarked, casting a disdainful glance at the newcomers. Natsuhi, however, eyed them with grave concern.
"Can you handle these few?" she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation as she tightened her grip on her kunai.
Seeing her burgeoning fighting spirit, a sense of satisfaction grew in Kusuo's heart. Choosing someone like her to learn the Peacock Method of the Demon Slayer Corps felt more and more like the right decision.
"Don't worry," Natsuhi declared, her confidence returning. "I alone am enough for them."
With that, she quickly formed a series of hand seals and charged forward, engaging the enemy ninjas in close combat. This time, she was careful to conserve every last bit of her chakra. Her opponents, however, fought with reckless abandon.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive dragon of water shot towards Natsuhi, slamming into her and forcing her several steps back. Just as Kusuo was about to intervene, Natsuhi stopped him.
"Lord Kusuo, please, leave them to me."
"Fire Style… Peacock Method!"
At her words, Kusuo stared in stunned silence. He had only known Natsuhi to possess the unique chakra from the star; this was the first time he had witnessed her wielding Fire Style chakra.
Giant, flaming wings materialized behind her, and with the aid of the fire, Natsuhi's body slowly lifted into the air.
"This is…" A flicker of excitement lit up Kusuo's eyes. He had worried that integrating other chakra natures might prove incompatible with the Peacock Method, but Natsuhi was proving that it was not only possible but devastatingly effective.
"Agh…" A trickle of blood escaped the corner of Natsuhi's mouth.
Kusuo moved to help, but she waved him off again. "It's alright, Lord Kusuo. I've never used this power before, so it's taken a small toll on my body. Besides, I wasn't in the best condition to begin with."
Kusuo lowered his hand, understanding. Natsuhi's body had been under immense strain from her training with the meteorite's power, an energy source known to cause severe physical harm. It was likely that using this new fire-based power was triggering a backlash from her previous injuries.
"You rest," Kusuo commanded, stepping forward. "I'll handle the rest." He drew his short sword, his presence alone a threat.
Faced with Kusuo's assault, the remaining ninjas fell quickly.
"Isn't that Hatake Kusuo of the Land of Fire?" a voice called from a hidden position. Several squads concealed in the shadows recognized him instantly.
"What is he doing here? He wasn't part of our mission objectives."
"Retreat! All units, fall back now!"
At their leader's command, the squads hidden within the forest swiftly withdrew. As the last of them vanished, Natsuhi finally allowed herself to relax. A mouthful of blood erupted from her lips.
"Are you okay?" Kusuo asked, gently patting her back.
Natsuhi wiped her mouth and looked up at him. "Don't worry, Lord Kusuo. It's nothing serious."
Although most of the squads had retreated, one team from the Mist's Anbu Black Ops lingered nearby, their sights set on Kusuo.
"`ˇCaptain, do we really have the strength to take on Hatake Kusuo?"
"For the sake of our Mizukage, we must eliminate him here and now."
Kusuo had already sensed their presence. However, with Natsuhi severely injured, he had no mind to deal with them.
Suddenly, Natsuhi's eyes widened. "Lord Kusuo, there's another group of people not far from here."
Kusuo nodded, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Ignore them for now. If they make a move, I'll deal with them."
Leaning against a nearby tree for support, Natsuhi pushed herself to her feet. "No. I must be the one to handle them."
With her resolve hardened, Natsuhi cried out, "Peacock Method! Combust!"
In an instant, immense flames erupted around her, the sheer heat radiating through the surrounding forest. The distant Anbu squad immediately felt the surge of her powerful fire chakra.
"How is she capable of this?" one of them wondered aloud. Seeing the massive peacock wings of flame burning behind Natsuhi left even the Mizukage's elite guards in awe.
"Forget how she's doing it! Our position has been compromised. Since they know we're here, we might as well attack!" the captain ordered. With their cover blown, the remaining ninja abandoned their hiding spots.
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